Complaint could disrupt racetrack's opening

5:46 AM,
Apr. 10, 2012

Racing will return to Monmouth Park, which will be privately operated, under a deal authorized by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Monday. AP FILE PHOTO Coil (front left) crosses the finish line in front of Shackleford (right) to win the Haskell Invitational on July 31 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport. Associated Press FILE - This July 31, 2011 file photo shows Coil, front left, crossing the finish line with jockey Martin Garcia up, in front of Shackleford, right, with Jesus Castanon up , and Ruler on Ice, left, with Jose Valdivia Jr. up, during the Haskell Invitational horse race at Monmouth Park, in Oceanport, N.J. Bob Baffert is back on the East Coast, convinced his 3-year-old colt Coil can beat the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winners again in the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

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A loser in recent bidding to take over management of state-owned Monmouth Park is contesting the results, threatening to muddle next month's season opening of the track for thoroughbred racing.

Attorneys representing John Brunetti, a Monmouth County developer and owner of a racetrack in Florida, will make the case that bidding should be reopened when they appear before a New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority hearing officer on Monday.

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and two consultant groups are slated to begin operating Monmouth Park on May 3, with the first ...